This is an edited version of 2 speeches given by Hywel Ceri Jones during 2017 which constitutes the story of the birth and development of the Erasmus programme to its present status as Erasmus +. In this text the place of education and training in the political and legal context of the development of the EU is highlighted. This presentation coincides with the widespread celebration of the thirtieth official anniversary of the Erasmus programme and with the growing political support for its expansion as key part of the EU's post 2020 strategy of development.